Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-12-08
SWEEPING CARPETS
RouseholA DUTY Whose Importan
should Not Bs Undsrestimated.


There is no part of the homework
that is as exhausting to the housewife
as the sweeping of carpets, and. to the
majority, sweeping day is the most
dreaded of all days Of the week. On
this day, in most houses, the rule is to
commence at the top. and sweep. each
room in order, to the bottom of the
house. Once a week each room in the
house must receive thorough sweep
ing. whether it really needs it or not
A chamber that is occupied but few
hours in the day and night does not
require to be swept as often rs the
family sitting-room. which is in con-
slant use; yet it receives thorough
sweeping each week, the same as the
much used family-room. Every thing
must be removed from it and
the carpet thoroughly brushed.
There is no necessity, unless the
chamber is used very much. of sweep
ing it thoroughly oftener than once
a month. To be sure, where there arc
children. there is, usually, more sweep
ing to be done than where the room is
occupied by adults. owing to the litter
tina, the little ones make. from paper,
bits OF cloth, ETC., although they may
be III the room but five minutes. a
slight brushing once week is all u
chamber needs. and for this kind of
work Il good carpet-sweeper is much
better than broom, although for
sweeping thoroughly. the broom still
stands 1T the head Of all other inven-
tons. For 4 slight brushing Of tapes
try. Brussels or any of the heavy grades
OF carpet. the carpet-sweepcr does the
work us well, is less fatiguing to use
than the broom. and raises but very
little dust. For the latter reason it is
particularly useful for an occasional
brushing of room in which are many
small ornaments. as they need not be
removed, and this. alone, Will save q
good many steps and considerable
time.
To sweep room thoroughly, all
articles that can be conveniently re-
moved take into another room. Cover
up al! ornaments and furniture re-
naming in the room, roll up the cur
tains as far as they will 90. close all
the doors and open the windows. If
the wind is strong and blows into the
room. it will be necessary to open the
windows at the top only Take Indian
meal and dampen it so that it will adj
here nicely together, hut be sure that
it is not too wet. Test it by squeezing
it tightly in tie hand, and if every
particle is damp so that it clings to-
gether, and yet no water can be
squeezed from it. it is ready for use.
Scatter it all over the carpet. using
plenty of ii. and being careful not to
step on it when sweeping. as it may
NIKE an ugly spot. With good
broom commence to sweep at one
corner and work toward the door
going out Come aver that you
should sweep with the wind.
but as this is usually done to
carry Off the dust, there is no
reason for this rule applying
where the Indian meal is used proper
ly. as it gathers up the dust, leaving
very little to rise and settle any where. |
After the room has been swept thor
Oughly, take up the meal and dust in !
a dustpan. Never brush the sweep !
ings of any room into the entry or
another room, but take up each rooms
sweepings separately. Close the door
after taking up the sweepings, and al /
low what little dust there may be to
settle before busting any thing. Co
ing over the carpet with cloth or
sponge wrung out tightly of ammonia
water. rinsing it often. will brighten
the cOlOrs. but unless the carpet is very |
dirty the meal will do the work very i
well. To be sure, where there are any
grease spots, the meal will have no
effect on them. and the ammonia is
just the thing. Saturate the spots
with pure ammonia. and rinse off with
clear water. This usually succeeds
in removing them. Some prefer
to encase the broom in a damp
cloth when sweeping. claiming that
it does not raise any dust This is
a very good plan for an invalid's room.
and in this case can not be too highly
but for living-room it
is not good. In the first place, the
corners and along the walls the carpet
must be swept with a dry broom. for
if not. every where the damp broom
touches on the paint, after being on
the carpets will make muddy streak.
which will necessitate a wiping of the
mop-boards after sweeping. Then,
unless the cloth is taken off and rinsed
often. the damp dust becomes mud,
snd must of a necessity be worked
back into the carpet There are other
objections. and on the whole the plan
IS not a good one even for light sweep
ING. A carpet swept in this way will
ook dull and muddy. and though it
may keep the dust from settling on the
furniture, it will in a short while ruin
he carpet as far az looks are con.
.erned. Too promiscious sweeping OF
he carpet should not be INDUCED in,